The Detroit Lions will look to continue their fairytale post-season when they travel to Levi's Stadium to face the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game on Sunday.
Both teams finished the regular season 12-5, but it is the 49ers who are expected to prevail and reach Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas on February 11th.
- Detroit Lions + 7 handicap
- Under 51.5 points
- Christian McCaffrey to score two or more touchdowns
Lions Cannot Be Overlooked
Three years after he took charge of the Lions, coach Dan Campbell's dreams are turning into reality.
The former tight end famously addressed the media with a rousing speech, only to be ridiculed for his predictions. Nobody is laughing now, though.
No team reaches the NFC Championship game without earning it - and Detroit have done that and then some.
The Lions were 6-3 on the road in the regular season and they have beaten the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers so far in the play-offs.
San Francisco had a bye week to start the play-offs before squeezing past the Green Bay Packers last week, running out 24-21 victors in the Divisional Round.
While the 49ers are used to playing on the big stage, Sunday's showdown will be the Lions' first Championship game since 1991 and they have never made it to a Super Bowl.
They may again fall short in California but they should at least be able to keep tabs on San Francisco's with a seven-point start on the handicap.
The 49ers are 0-6 against the spread in their past six home games and Detroit could drag them into a dogfight.
Expect A Close Battle
The 49ers were nowhere near their best during their narrow win over the Packers but they found a way to win when it mattered.
Kyle Shanahan's men will have to fight for every yard against the Lions, who have built up a reputation for being tough and physical on both sides of the ball.
49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel is a doubt for Sunday's game due to a shoulder injury and his absence may make this game a closer contest. Their worst offensive performances this season have come in Samuel's absence and they have scored just 17 points in the three games he missed in the regular season.
With Samuel a doubt the 49ers will have to get the best out of their other receivers, so going low on points looks a prudent approach.
McCaffrey key for the 49ers
49ers To Lean On McCaffrey
No player rushed for more yards than McCaffrey during the 2023 regular season. The 49ers ace racked up 1,459 yards on the ground and scored the joint-most touchdowns.
McCaffrey and Miami's Raheem Mostert both scored 21 touchdowns in the regular season, and the Niners star crossed for two more against the Packers last week.
The 49ers will need him to punch holes in the Lions defence and it would not be a shock to see him crash into the end zone on more than one occasion.
MCCAFFREY TWO OR MORE TOUCHDOWNS
